Emma Plummer

Giving Tuesday is an international day of giving. It immediately follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday (this year, 27 November) each year and is a chance to give back to good causes close to our hearts and minds!

Roughly 1 in 10 people chose to take part each year, with millions of pounds being very generously donated throughout the World.

On a local level, it also gives smaller localised charities a voice and an opportunity to ask its community to raise much needed funds to carry on the good work it is doing.

Why support Headway Essex today on #GivingTuesday

Every 58 minutes someone is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. Quite often, their life and the lives of their family members will forever be affected.

Each year, Headway Essex, supports hundreds of people living with acquired brain injury, giving them the opportunity to develop a renewed sense of purpose, social structure and added meaning to their lives.

Our Community Support Service could not function without the ongoing commitment of people committed to raising money for us. By supporting us today, you’ll help secure the tomorrows of many clients and their carers.

How you can get involved

Become a Festive Fundraiser. Something as simple as raising funds from a Christmas Jumper or baking competition will enable us to be there for somebody when they really need our help!

Become a member of The Headway Essex Hive and start the New Year by giving a regular donation to Headway Essex

Make a one-off donation. Just £5 allows us to provide initial advice and information to somebody living with a brain injury.

Sign-up to a challenge and get fundraising! There’s nothing like a new challenge for the New Year!

Thank you

We promise every penny you donate or raise will go to continuing our work in supporting people living with acquired brain injury in Essex.

The exact date and time, 3 November 2008 9.45pm, will be etched on their minds forever. Gary was loving life and working at a tattoo studio at the time. After work, he left with a colleague to go and see a band play, but the music wasn’t quite to his liking, and so he left early. He was hurrying through Tottenham Court Road Underground Station when he lost his footing on the stairs and hit his head so hard he was knocked unconscious. A passer-by called for an ambulance.

Emergency surgery following traumatic brain injury

Gary was taken directly to The Royal London Hospital where he had to undergo emergency brain surgery to save his life having sustained three blood-clots in his brain.

It wasn’t until 1.15am that Bernie picked up a telephone call from the Police informing him that Gary was critically ill in hospital. By the time Bernie and Pauline arrived at hospital he was already half way through a life-saving operation. Thankfully, he pulled through.

The next day, in ICU, Gary was rushed back into surgery following another blood clot on the brain. It was one of the worse days of their lives.

After spending two weeks in a coma, he was gradually woken up. Pauline and Bernie had been told to expect that Gary would have a long road to recovery, but nothing could prepare them for his reaction.

“It was terrifying” recalls Pauline. “He was confused, angry, and pulling all his wires out at every opportunity”. In the end, nurses had to restrain Gary to keep him safe.

“What I didn’t expect was the regression” adds Pauline. “Gary would plead with me to take him home and would say ‘I’ll be a good boy, mum’, when he was 40 year-old man living independently”.

Eventually he was transferred to Romford Hospital, where he spent many weeks. It was a “very difficult time” recalls Pauline as “Gary’s anger and frustration became really bad. One day he got so angry he started eating anything he could get his hands on, which is dangerous because he is diabetic”. It was also really upsetting for Pauline and Bernie who visited Gary on a daily basis.

Getting back to independent living

As part of his recovery and to prepare him for independent living, Gary was transferred to the Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre. His stubbornness and determination not to give up meant he pushed himself really hard to get better. “Sometimes a bit too hard”, says Bernie.

He was allowed to come and stay with Pauline and Bernie at weekends, but this was not without its challenges. They had only moved to Essex a few months before Gary’s accident; it wasn’t the same as returning to his flat for the weekend. He didn’t know where everyday objects were kept and even found making a sandwich really difficult. “He would get in a terrible rage” recalls Pauline.

It was a long road to recovery and took 10 months to return home. In the last month at Black Heath, Gary lived in an independent flat. Here he had an almost deadly accident. He put a microwave meal on the length of time required for oven cooking and caught fire to his flat. “Even to this day, he doesn’t remember the incident” says Pauline.

In some ways, Gary is very capable of living an independent life. His brain injury has left him with being very regimental with exactly when and how he does everyday tasks. “He never forgets his insulin and is very careful with when he eats” says Bernie. He’s also very particular about self-care and hygiene and very protective over his Viking collectables.

Moving back to his first floor flat was tough though. He had to get used to navigating the stairs, which wasn’t easy with his gait having been affected by his brain injury. His passion for purchasing Viking collectables has also taken over his living space. “He purchases some extravagant items, but it has become an obsession, which he didn’t have before his brain injury”, says Pauline.

“I worry myself sick about him” says Pauline. His boiler kept breaking and he was left without hot water and no heating for a month in winter when it was snowing outside but he still kept to his showering routine.

Perception of danger

“He also doesn’t see danger” adds Pauline. He once turned up his local Headway meeting with a Viking sword to show fellow clients and he simply didn’t see the risk.

“Once, we went up town and I noticed he was bleeding”, adds Pauline. Gary had accidently cut the top of his finger off, but didn’t think to say anything to her even though it was a very deep cut.

Life is further complicated by Gary’s diabetes. Whilst he is great at managing it through routine, he is still at risk of high or low blood sugar, which can make him collapse. This has happened a couple of times. Once, Gary left hospital after having collapsed but he couldn’t find his way home because of his brain injury. “Life can be very confusing for him”, says Bernie.

People also do not ‘see’ his brain injury. “Gary has some tattoos. People automatically make a judgment. They might think he is drunk or on drugs or that he has mental health issues. Nobody thinks ‘acquired brain injury’. It’s a hidden disability” adds Pauline.

Loneliness

It’s also very lonely. Gary is not the same person he was before acquiring a brain injury. “Understandably, his friends found it difficult to relate to him and they gradually stopped seeing him. But when a person changes in such a big way, you can’t blame people for not being able to connect anymore”, says Bernie.

“He also struggles to make new friends. His brother takes him shopping every Saturday and two Headway volunteers visit him each week, but other than that he doesn’t socialise”, says Pauline.

Now, Pauline and Bernie take it turns once a week to make the 120 mile round-trip by public transport to visit Gary and make sure he is ok.

Carer support at Headway Essex

Life’s still very much a roller-coaster for Pauline and Bernie as well as Gary. But, as carers, they have found a great deal of support through Headway Essex.

They were already familiar with Headway, as Gary has received support from Headway East London, so they reached out to Headway Essex.

They’ve been accessing Headway Essex’s community support for several years now and find attending a Carers Support Group immensely beneficial.

“Having other people to talk to who are caring for a loved one with a brain injury means you feel much less alone. They understand and you can speak freely about your challenges and frustrations as a carer”, says Pauline.

“I would give Headway Essex 10 out of 10; it’s superb. If we hadn’t have got in contact we would have been very stuck. Not just with the emotional weight of things, but with all the complex paperwork that comes with caring” adds Bernie.

Volunteering

Being a carer and friend of Headway Essex for many years, Pauline now volunteers her time and helps at Support Groups where both clients and carers are in attendance.

“I love volunteering at the groups. I feel part of something really important. Not only am I helping Headway Essex, I have a much clearer understanding on what it is like to be the person living with acquired brain injury. I know first-hand what it means to be a carer, but it’s really useful to learn more about the struggles clients have to contend with and the coping strategies they have in place to help them.”

Help us to continue to be there for more carers like Bernie and Pauline

If you feel touched by their story and would like to donate to Headway Essex to ensure we can be there for others in a similar situation, every little helps.

Make the most of the festive cheer and raise some funds for Headway Essex this Christmas and become a Headway Essex Festive Fundraiser.

We’re passionate about injecting the ‘fun’ into fundraising and Christmas is the perfect time to do just this. So if you love the comfort of a mince pie, the rustle of wrapping paper, the smell of Christmas cake, or cosying up with a festive jumper, why not throw your very own festive fundraising event!

Here’s a few of our top ideas that we know work really well:

Christmas Gift Wrap party

How much do you think your gift wrapping technique is worth? If you love nothing more than gift wrapping presents yet your friends or colleagues are not so keen, why don’t you offer your services for a small fee!

Christmas Jumper Competition

Why don’t you suggest a Christmas Jumper Competition where you work or in your community? You and your friends could don your most festive knitwear in a bid to raise funds for Headway Essex. From the interesting ‘home-made’ jumper to comic classics, you couldn’t get more in the Christmas spirit.

Mince pie merriments

You might also want to host a mulled wine and mince party celebration. It’s really easy to organise and if you’re nifty in the kitchen, you might even want to bake your own mince pies and mull your own wine!

Merry Berry Bake Off

If you and your friends really want to put your baking skills to the test, how about hosting a Christmas cake bake off. You could ask people to purchase the cakes and vote for their favourite. You could even have some fun with some of the categories – most humorous, most on-brand, best tasting, and even an anti-Christmas cake!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Introducing Chrissy’s Headway Essex story

In 2007 I went for a hearing test because I was noticing that I could only respond to sounds from the back but not the front. My friends, who I would go to karaoke with, also found it difficult to communicate with me at times because I simply couldn’t hear them.

Loss of hearing as a sign

When I went to the doctors, they suggested I have a hearing test, which I did. It was at this hearing test (where a more in depth examination took place) that it was found I had two ‘blisters’ within my brain. An MRI followed, and I was told I have brain aneurysms and that they could cause bleeding at any time. The news came completely out of the blue; I was shocked. Not only this, but I had to go home and tell my son and daughter.

I was referred to Queen’s hospital in London where I visited many times for various scans to monitor the stability of both aneurysms. All the while, I also had a complex issue with my gall bladder, which had to be removed. It was an incredibly tough time that brought with it an awful lot of anxiety and stress.

Dealing with anxiety and uncertainty

I felt like I was walking around with a ticking time bomb in my head. “Would it be the last time I would see my grandchildren?” “Is this the final time I’ll get to see my friends?” The anxiety and thoughts were relentless.

I lived like this, with annual visits to Queen’s for six years. It was in 2013 that they decided my aneurysms were stable enough to stop ongoing monitoring. This was a really difficult time; I suddenly felt alone. I was still living in constant fear of ‘what if’.

All I knew was that I would have to get to hospital as soon as possible if I had a severe headache and nausea. But, trying to work out what somebody means by ‘severe’ when you’re under so much stress is not easy; especially since I am prone to headaches and have sinus issues. I was a nervous wreck.

Impact on mental health

My mental health took a turn for the worse as the anxiety never went away. I started to hear voices and had delusions, which to me, felt so real and incredibly scary. My family were terribly frightened for me and in 2017 I voluntarily agreed to go into the King’s Wood Centre in Colchester for adults with acute mental health problems.

I couldn’t understand why I was there, but I knew I wasn’t well. It was a very raw and tough time for me. But, it was here that I met a psychiatric nurse, who when having reviewed my history, pushed for further brain scans.

I had a series of scans in July 2017, where it was revealed that one of my aneurysms had grown to 9cm in size, which explained why I was having such intrusive thoughts. And on 29 August, I had extensive brain surgery to remove the aneurysm that had grown.

Realities of recovery

Recovering from the operation was very hard. Mentally it was tough and isolating, even though I had my children and grandchildren supporting me.

Where all the nerve pathways started to reconnect, the pain was intense. I would wake up in agony. This was an ongoing symptom for many months.

I had a really scary episode in April this year, when my eyes started to spasm uncontrollably. My neighbour had to call an ambulance for me and I was taken to hospital where I had a CT scan and a lumbar puncture to check for any bleeding. Thankfully, my remaining aneurysm, which is inoperable, was not the cause. The eye spasms were being caused by a blepharospasm; something I’ve been left with as a result of my life-saving operation back in August last year.

Discovering Headway Essex

I found out about Headway Essex a while ago through a counsellor I was seeing for my anxiety. I was given booklets on the services available and told how fantastic the support is. But at the time, I was in a really fragile state of mind. I wasn’t ready to reach out.

It was only after my operation and recent scare that I felt ready. Making contact with Headway Essex is the best thing I’ve done. They’ve provided me with some light in what has been a very dark place. I wish I had made contact sooner.

I am now, mentally, feeling stronger; even though my future with my remaining aneurysm remains uncertain. I am tackling my anxiety with the help of Headway Essex. I am receiving counselling through the charity’s counsellor specialising in brain injury, Steve Shears MSc, and I also attended my first Headway Essex Support group in September.

At the support group, I didn’t feel alone. I was surrounded by wonderful people, who are all braving brain injury together.

Mandy, one of Headway Essex’s Community Support workers, is simply amazing. She has an ability to listen and truly understand what having a brain injury means on an individual level. She’s helped me apply for a Headway Card, which I can present to people when I am out to alert them to the fact that I have a brain injury.

At the moment, I am feeling good. Sharing my story is a big step forward for me. I hope that if somebody with a brain injury reads this that they’ll take Headway Essex up on their offer of support.

Help us be there for more people like Chrissy!

We can only continue to support people like Chrissy in their hour of need. If you are able to and would like to donate to Headway Essex, please click on the donate button below.

This month marks a year since Shirley had her stroke. We interview Shirley to find out more about her life after brain injury.

On 14 September 2017, Shirley was at home with her husband of nearly 50 years, Joe, who she affectionately calls Joey!

“I remember that day clearly” recalls Shirley. “As a family, we were anxious. Our daughter and her family were in Florida on holiday when two category 5 hurricanes hit. America was in a state of emergency and there was very little we could do, apart from waiting for updates. I was very stressed.”

“On the morning of 14 September I had an incredibly intense headache; like nothing I had ever felt before. I remember taking a shower. I then went downstairs whilst Joey had his shower. All I recall happening next was being uncontrollably and violently sick. When he came downstairs, he immediately called 999.”

Feeling confused

The emergency services arrived in just 3 minutes and blue-lighted Shirley directly to Colchester General Hospital, where she was assessed as having had a stroke. She was eventually transferred to a private room on the stroke ward where she stayed for just over 5 weeks.

“It was a scary time in hospital, even though the stroke care team at the hospital were amazing” says Shirley. “I was confused and it was so difficult to order my thoughts and understand what was happening to me. I felt as if I was in prison. Every time I moved from my bed I was quickly prompted by an electronic device telling me to return to resting. I couldn’t understand why I needed other people’s permission to leave the hospital, even though it was to keep me safe. Physically, I felt fine, but inside I felt so muddled and alone.”

“Even now, if you didn’t know Shirley you wouldn’t think she is living with the effects of a brain injury. It’s a hidden injury.” says Joe.

“It’s isolating, having a brain injury” adds Shirley, even though her husband and grandchildren were by her beside every day whilst she was in hospital and spend a lot of time with her now. “I can be in a room full of people and feel completely lost in my thoughts.”

Help from Headway Essex

Shirley and Joe knew they had to take all the support that was on offer. At the hospital, the nurses recommended Headway Essex.

“We didn’t have any reservations about making contact. Reading about the charity and the type of services available, we got in touch straight away” says Joe.

“Headway Essex has been a lifeline to us. I would recommend their services to anybody who has a brain injury” adds Shirley. “I made steady progress in my recovery in the first six months, but as the support tailed-off from the NHS and ACE, I felt myself regressing slightly.

“I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and will start getting dressed thinking it is the morning even though it’s dark outside. I also struggle with using my debit card for payment and get anxious about people waiting behind me at a checkout.”

“Headway Essex though has been great at suggesting compensatory techniques” adds Joe. “We even have a Headway card that Shirley hands over to the cashier with her debit card when making a payment. It subtly lets the cashier know that she has a brain injury. So far, she’s used it in Boots and Marks & Spencer. On both occasions, the cashiers were wonderful with Shirley.”

Making new friends

“Before the stroke, I was a very private person. Now, because of my injury I am really social and confident” says Shirley, who looks forward to going to the Headway Essex support groups, which help reduce social isolation.

“As a husband and carer, it’s great to be able to chat with other family members who are in a similar position to me” says Joe. “Plus, he loves to show off his cakes at each get together” Shirley quickly adds!

A bright future

The memory clinic at Colchester General Hospital is helping Shirley to move forward with her ability to order her thoughts and retain short-term information. Under the care of a Clinical Psychologist, she’s been told she has dyslexia, which she says “I’ve probably always had but the brain injury has made it much more noticeable.”

“She’s due to have another MRI soon which will help the hospital recommend suitable treatments and therapies. We look forward to updating our friends at the Headway Essex Support Group as we find out more” says Joe.

Shirley and Joe will also be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this October, having met in the 1960s when they were just 16 and 18. From everyone at Headway Essex, we wish them a very happy anniversary and hope that Joe saves some cake for the next Support Group!

Help us to continue to be there for many more people…

If you feel touched by Shirley & Joe’s story and would like to donate to Headway Essex to ensure we can be there for others in a similar situation, every little helps. Giving just £5 enables us to provide initial support to someone who has acquired a brain injury.

Having a brain injury can leave people incredibly vulnerable; not simply due to the physical nature of their injury but because brain injury remains largely ‘hidden’.

Consider for a moment that somebody you are supporting has a brain injury. They understand the dangers of crossing a road and can even explain this to you, but when they are out, they step directly into oncoming traffic.

Or perhaps, they were once mild mannered, but now really struggle with handling their emotions and it’s having an impact on their relationships with family and friends.

As a carer or a professional supporting that person, how can you recognise and manage the ‘hidden’ symptoms of brain injury and support them in their recovery?

Understanding Brain Injury training

Headway Essex’s one-day Understanding Brain Injury training course is delivered by Steve Shears MSc, who is a highly experienced trainer and psychotherapist specialising in acquired brain injury. During the training, delegates are given the opportunity to:

Learn more about the nature of acquired brain injury (ABI) and why it is sometimes called a ‘hidden disability’

Gain a greater understanding of cognitive, psychological, behavioural and physical aspects of brain injury and be able to apply this new found knowledge to service users.

Draw on real-life examples and how to adapt their support to help someone living with ABI

Understand the wider impact of ABI on relationships

Become familiar with using the Brain Injury Needs Indicator (BINI) used when making social care assessments

Become better informed of the local resources available

About the course

The course will take place on Thursday 25 October 2018 (10am – 4pm) at Birkett Long offices in Colchester, Essex.

The cost is £75 per delegate, which includes a light lunch and refreshments.

On a very sunny Friday in August we welcomed Peter Irwin and Colin Barden from the Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) agency in Frinton-On-Sea to the Headway Centre.

They popped along for a tour of the centre to see first-hand how their customers’ collective donation of £1000 will benefit Headway Essex’s clients.

Yorkshire Building Society Small Change Big Difference

We applied for the £1000 grant from the Yorkshire Building Society Small Change Big Difference scheme earlier this year.

Naturally, we were delighted to be chosen by Peter Irwin and his team at Frinton-On-Sea based Yorkshire Building Society Agency, whose customers kindly donated the pennies from the annual interest on their accounts to the scheme.

Funding specialist therapies

The £1000 will cover the cost of one of our specialist therapies; trampolining sessions for some of our clients.

Trampolining is suitable for all abilities and a great benefit to those whose mobility is significantly restricted. Some of our clients who are wheelchair reliant really do gain a sense of freedom from this activity.

As well as being an accessible form of exercise we find that trampolining achieves the following benefits:

Improved fitness and flexibility

Improved balance and core stability

An increase in confidence levels and an improved ability to follow instructions

Positive impact on mental health and reduced stress levels

This activity is part of a range of social activities and services within the community offered by Headway Essex to its clients, all of which have been carefully selected to help build confidence and reduce isolation.

We would not be able to continue to provide our services without the support of local businesses and individuals and we are very grateful for the support of YBS.

As a preview of the Essex Classic Vehicle Show on Sunday 16 September, we thought we would share a few stories from those who have submitted their vehicle history to us ahead of showcasing their car in a few weeks times!

In no particular order, here’s a sneak preview of the type of vehicles and discussions you’re likely to have with the owners of the many classic vehicles at this year’s show:

S.S.Jaguar Drop Head Coupe in Black, 1939, 1775 CC 4 cylinder (pictured)
This is a very rare vehicle. Its owner only recalls having seen one other model in his 55 year ownership. It was bought for just £15 and was the owner’s first car. It has attended many shows including Motor 100, Jaguar 75, The Queen’s Jubilee at Ascot and the Grand Parade through Windsor Castle last year. In 1972, “Felix” was loaned to Jaguar for an exhibition in Coventry where the owner met Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar Cars Ltd.

Vauxhall 23/60 Red/Black, 1924
One of the oldest classics to attend this year, this Vauxhall has a rich history and graced the roads of Australia for many years before being brought back to the UK in 2000. The current owner, keen to learn more about his car’s travels and history, met up with a previous owner in Australia who had owned the classic for 40 years. Visit the Essex Classic Vehicle Show to find out more…

Ford cortina mk3 2 door gt 2 litre Ambassador blue, 1972, 2000 cc
With a claim to fame, this Ford Cortina, featured on the famous music video” Gloria Cycles -Chancer” on youtube. The current owner is the vehicle’s third owner and 95% of the car’s parts are the original parts, beautifully maintained.

MGB GT Blue, 1972, 1800cc 4 cyl
Known affectionately as Trigger’s Broom, the history of this stunning classic dates back to 1976. The first owner remains a mystery, but the second owner (of 20 years) was a doctor. It was then bought by a classic car enthusiast after 25 years ungaraged in daily use and restored for his daughter’s birthday. Up until this point it was a London car. The works totalled some 9k and included sills floors half wings, valances, all paint and re-trimmed front seats, electronic ignition and an ivor searle head. It then moved from Luton to St Neots which is where I the current owner purchased it. It is called Trigger’s Broom because it’s on its 3rd engine, third gearbox (it was once automatic) third set of half wings, second set of sills and a great many more.

Black 1952 Golden Anniversary Cadillac Sedan
An American classic, manufactured in Texas in 1952, this special Golden Anniversary Cadillac Sedan has 14 carat gold plated Vs. The current owner restored it during 2008 to 2017. This included a great deal of skill involving a total engine rewire and rebuild, new rims, some re-chroming, carpets and upholstery. It is stunning to look at.

Ford mk2 Lotus Cortina, white with green strip, 1967, 1558cc
The engine of this beautiful Ford was restored in 2006 by its current owners. Previous to this, it had’nt graced the road for 16 years. The engine was completely seized-up. Every nut and bolt has been replaced (using all original parts where possible).

Mercedes-Benz SL190 [W121],Light Ivory/Russet Brown, Jan 1960, 1897cc. 4cyl.
This well-loved classic was saved from going to the breaker’s yard by the current owner, who spent two years restoring it between May 1993 and April 1995. It has been restored exactly to factory spec. This model was produced mainly for the USA market as a more affordable Mercedes as a smaller version of the Gullwing 300sl.

Ford MK2 Granada 2.8i Ghia estate silver, 1983, 2.8
This classic has been used extensively during its lifetime. The current owner acquired it in 2008 and previous to that it had five owners. For most of its life it was used as an everyday car and kept outside and was even used for towing a horse trailer up until 2014. It is now primarily used for classic vehicle shows.

If you are showing your classic vehicle at the event and have not yet shared your vehicle’s history with Headway Essex and CCVC, you can do so by submitting your information through this link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DDWPDJ8

On Sunday 16th September, visitors to Colchester Castle Park are invited to take a trip back in time, reflect on motoring along the open roads and admire the vehicles of the time, all of which are now classics.

Around 200 classic vehicles are expected to be shown on the day, with various awards presented in the arena. The oldest vehicle registered so far is a Vauxhall 23/60 1924. It is a delightful tourer of impeccable Edwardian ancestry, surviving in production until 1926 when the Luton company was taken over by General Motors.

A Charity Classic Car Club event

“With fewer clubs now arranging events, the CCVC aims to provide classic vehicle owners and enthusiasts with the opportunity to enjoy the use of their vehicles and, at the same time, raise some funds for the less fortunate members of the community.

“Last year, at the vehicle show, we raised £7,500 for Headway Essex which was due in no small part to the support we receive from the many classic vehicle owners in the area. We hope to emulate this again this year.”

Plenty for families to do

As well as the classic vehicles, there will be lots for car enthusiasts and families to do. There will be a wide range of food and craft stalls, plenty to keep the children entertained including a bouncy castle, face painting, tea cup ride and an array of entertainment including C L Cheerleaders, Kingsland Choir and Team Kinetix who will showcase their skills in Parkour, free running and acrobatics.

“Whether you have a passion for traditional British classics, vintage motors, historic motorsport or prefer the more modern retro classics, you won’t be disappointed.”

Gates to the event in lower Castle Park, will open at 10.30am. Entry for spectators is £3 for adults and £2 for concessions, the cost for classic vehicles is £5 per car and £2 per motorbike. All money raised from the event will go directly to support Headway Essex’s work in supporting those living with acquired brain injury.

Attendees at our latest Headway Essex Mid Essex Support Group were encouraged to put their ‘best foot forward’ at their Afternoon Tea themed annual social gathering.

Dancing duo, Christopher Burrell and Emma Burrell from Starlight Dancing treated the group to an introduction to the Foxtrot and the Waltz.

“It was a real treat to watch and pick up some steps” remarked several members of the group as Christopher and Emma, who are currently ranked 3rd in England in 10-Dance (which is a combination of both Ballroom and Latin dance styles) showcased the two dances.

They very kindly volunteered their time as Headway Essex client, Wayne (pictured in the white tuxedo), attends one of their dance classes. The next day they were due to depart on a P&O cruise to perform alongside the Strictly Come Dancing stars.

Annual support group social

The entire meeting was themed around afternoon tea, complete with sandwiches, scones & jam, and a selection of teas and coffees, all kindly put together by our wonderful volunteer, Pauline. Lunch was even served on beautiful vintage crockery kindly loaned to us by our neighbours, St. Helena Hospice vintage shop.

The morning finished with a tea themed quiz, which was a firm favourite with everyone! Who knew we had so many tea fanatics in the room!

Would you like to attend a support group?

For those living with acquired brain injury, our support groups are often invaluable. You’ll meet others who are at different stages of their recovery or supporting somebody with a brain injury. You’ll be able to share information and hear from experts in brain injury and rehabilitation.

We run four support groups throughout Essex that meet in relaxed community locations. We try really hard to keep costs to a minimum with a charge of £2.50 per person or £5 per family for each meeting.

To find out more about the groups and how to pre-register your attendance, which you must do before you attend, you can email communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk or call 01206 768797.

Headway Essex relies on voluntary donations to continue to provide vital services to brain injury survivors and their families. Your gift will help us to continue providing information and support to those who need it.

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